You refinished a great piece. You took the photos, wrote the listing, posted it on Facebook Marketplace…and nothing. A few days go by. Maybe a week. The views aren’t great, messages are nonexistent, and suddenly you start questioning everything. Did I choose the wrong color? Is this style not selling anymore? Are my photos terrible? Is my price too high? And then comes the temptation to do the easiest thing possible: drop the price. Before you do that, there’s something el

This hope chest was in rough shape, and the original plan had to change fast. Not every furniture refinishing project goes according to plan, and this hope chest was a perfect example of that. When I first brought this piece home, I assumed I would take the traditional route: strip it down and either stain it naturally or use a tan wash to soften and neutralize the wood tones. Those are usually reliable options when a piece has heavy orange tones, uneven color, or years of we

I just can’t say no to free furniture, but if it’s free, it usually comes with a lot more work. CLICK the button to watch the full makeover. This cabinet was gifted to me, and while it had great storage and a practical layout, the original finish was worn, scratched, and tired. It was one of those pieces that did not look like much at first, but the bones were still good. That is usually what I look for when deciding whether a piece is worth saving. For this makeover, I kept

So you’ve been watching furniture refinishing online, falling in love with the before and afters, and thinking — could I actually do this? Yes. You absolutely can. But before you dive in, I want to give you the honest version of how to get started — not the hype, not the “I made $10,000 my first month” version. The real version. The one that sets you up to actually succeed. First, Let’s Talk Money One of the first questions people ask is: how much do I need to start? The good

If you’ve been hanging around Olive Street Designs for a while, you know I’m a big believer in having the right tools. And nothing divides the furniture refinishing world quite like paint sprayers. Everyone has an opinion. So I decided to put three of the most popular ones to the test — the HomeRight Super Finish Max, the Wagner Flexio 5000, and the Earlex 6700 — and give you my completely honest take. Spoiler: they all did a solid job. But there are some real differences wor

We all make mistakes - If you’re diving into the world of furniture refinishing, first of all—welcome. It’s incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly frustrating if you’re working blind. Over the years, I’ve watched beginners (and even experienced refinishers) repeat the same mistakes that lead to extra work, uneven finishes, and disappointing results. The good news? Every one of these mistakes is completely avoidable with the right approach and a little practice.

Learning the difference between sanding, scraping and using strippers can save you time and effort when stripping furniture.

10 steps to help you master sanding and create a smooth, professional finish. The sander is the most useful tool for refinishing furniture.